‘Trainer Joe’ making workouts accessible

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

On Facebook, he’s known as Trainer Joe.

But personal trainer Joseph Low can be more easily found at the Charles City YMCA, where he works with between 15-18 regular clients each week on fitness goals and consultations. Low does around 30 personal sessions each week at the YMCA.

“It’s really tailored to each individual need,” Low said.

Before working with each client, Low gives a free 30-40 minute consultation, going over the client’s fitness goals and current lifestyle, and undergoing a basic physical assessment to help Low judge the client’s cardiovascular system, posture, and other form items.

“Sometimes I’m not the guy to help them,” he said. “It’s very specific, it’s very detailed to the individual’s need … It really depends on people’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Low works with clients in a variety of life circumstances, from those who’ve undergone surgeries like gastric bypass to clients who live with special-needs situations. The main focus many of his clients have is losing weight and gaining strength, Low said.

“The body is easily adaptable,” Low said. “We’re not as active as we used to be, so our bodies just get accustomed to being lazy. It takes a lot to really activate a muscle, like a basic bicep curl.”

Low grew up in Millville, N.J. and knows the power of motivation. Starting at 16, he fell into a drug addiction that lasted 12 years before he found himself in an Iowan faith-based alternative center to rehabilitation. Low credits his Christian faith for his successes, and has now lived in Charles City for four years.

“I’ve been clean for seven years now and have a passion to help people, to help change their lives and refocus, redirect them,” Low said. “Fitness and health is an easy way to help and guide people.”

Through the National Exercise Trainers Association, Low has a certificate in General Personal Training and a specialist certificate in Senior Fitness. He also has a life-coaching certificate through Lives Transforming, which he says is helpful to understand as a motivator for his clients.

“During the assessment, people will say –– ’push ups, I can’t do push ups,’ and then they end up getting 15,” Low said. “Your thought process had you not even trying, but I knew you could get some, and you got 15. It’s just really coaching people to want more out of themselves and actually get it.”

Just about anyone can benefit from working with a personal trainer, Low said –– from school athletes learning proper form and technique, to adults learning to use gym equipment for the first time. Low works with clients for an average of two months, although he will work with clients as long as they need direction. Rates for sessions with Low are available at the Charles City YMCA.

“The form is more important –– and your technique, and using the proper muscle –– than how much weight you can do,” Low said. “If you are golfing, we work a lot on your core and your legs. It can be tailored to anything … Anyone could benefit from a personal trainer.”